rOYAL SYDNEY YACHT SQUADRON

Sydney (Kirribilli), New South Wales, australia

The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron was established on 8 July 1862 in Sydney by a group of nineteen yachtsmen. Within a year the club was accorded Royal patronage by the Prince of Wales. In 1903 the Squadron moved to its current location following the purchase of the cottage “Carabella”. The Squadron burgee was hoisted for the first time on January 24, 1903 on the present flagstaff.

The primary objective of the Squadron was and remains today to promote and encourage yachting generally, and of racing among sailing yachts in particular. Later this primary objective was expanded to encompass the maintenance and operation of a members club and to provide appropriate amenities and facilities for a yacht club including club houses, boathouses, boats safety and rescue equipment and facilities, wharves, jetties, piers, slipways, shipyards, meeting, function and dining rooms.

The Squadron has a proud history of involvement in international yachting events including Olympics, world championships, Admiral’s Cup and America’s Cup campaigns. Alongside this international involvement continued, as it does today, a strong program of club racing. Saturday racing remains the traditional point score competition day however the sailing program has continued to expand to include Friday night Twilight Sailing, Tuesday night Twilight ladies helmsmen sailing and Sunday Youth Sailing. The Youth Sailing program has recently celebrated 50 years of continuous operation and develops young graduates from the age of 12 to become not only accomplished sailors but to develop skills to enable them to become instructors themselves. In the 2009/10 year over 100 youth sailors were enrolled in the program.

A more recent addition to the sailing program has been a ladies sailing training program referred to as Ladies of the Sea or “LOTS”. During the 2009/10 season 130 boats competed in the Saturday racing across 8 divisions, 104 yacht competed in the Friday Twilight racing and 26 yachts competed in the Ladies Tuesday Twilight racing. In addition to these regular club regattas the Squadron also held more than 15 regattas for various class associations including State and National titles.

In addition to on water race management the Squadron also provided hardstand yacht storage and swing mooring and boat repair services to its Members to compliment the sailing activities. With a Membership of 2,950 the clubhouse food and beverage facilities provide an integral component of the services offered to Members. The clubhouse is spread over four levels including change and locker rooms for Members, a brasserie style bar and restaurant, a fine dining bar and restaurant, function and meeting rooms and in-house and self-contained apartment accommodation.

The Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron is approaching a major milestone in the Club's history. The year 2012 will see the celebration of the Sesqui-centenary or 150 years since the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron was formed.